1994 Chevrolet C10: problems, recalls and reliability
15 recalls and 20 owner complaints on record; most reports concern visibility; the 1992 and 1993 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Windshield/wiper failure on 1994 chevrolet c10. Noticed on NHTSA's website that there is a recall # 98v150001 and also a recall notice from consumer report involving this problem. Chevy advised that there is not current recall for this problem. Wipers will intermittently work. *la”Owner report · Visibility · Nov 2003
“When driving and windshield wipers were needed, they were inoperable, causing poor driver's visibility. Recall 98v150000 deals with same problem. However, consumer's vehicle is not included in recall due to VIN. Windshield wipers work sporadically. Consumer repaired problem himself. *jg”Owner report · Visibility · Jan 2002
“Vehicle experienced same problems as stated in recall 98v150001/ windshield wipers working intermittently, soldier joints near wiring harness connector cracked. Manufacturer advised consumer that this vehicle was not a part of recall due to VIN. *ak *slc”Owner report · Visibility · Aug 2000
Show 7 more owner reports
“My windshield wipers exhibit the symptoms described in campaign number 98v150001. I have contacted the local dealer and chevrolet customer service to obtain repairs and both tell me that the campaign doesn't apply to my vehicle. Perhaps the scope of the campaign should be expanded.”Owner report · Visibility · Oct 1999
“Consumer had vehicle repaired under recall for broken bolts of seat back. Recall was repaired in april 1996, the problem has occurred again on dec. 11, 9. Dealer said because of time between recall repairs and defect reocurrence they will repair for fees only. The seat recliner machenism bolts broke and the seat back falls back. *ak”Owner report · Seats · Dec 1998
“98 v 150 001/ 98 v 150 000/windshield wiper wiring: windshield wipers work intermittently. This can result in inoperative wipers, reducing driver's visibility, and increasing risk of a vehicle crash. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under recalls due to VIN. *ak consumer states wipers will work if you tap on the wiper motor, consumer also states his wiper symptoms are the exact same as what it states in the recall. *slc”Owner report · Visibility · Oct 1998
“While driving vehicle started surging, pulled over checked and found nothing. Started vehicle up again, before moving the vehicle it caught on fire. Fire department came to put the fire out. Dealer not aware of the defect. *ak possible engine failure. *slc”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 1998
“When traveling about 20 to 40 mph the rear tailgate opened due to bad adjusters. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer is aware of the problem. *ak”Owner report · Structure · Jun 1997
“While driving the truck will cut off and the driver loses all steering and brakes and the driver does not have any control on the truck. This has happened several times. Took truck to dealer 4-5 times, and the dealer could not find anything. The problem still is happening. The truck will cut off for no reason and no warning. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 1996
“While driving or motionless, high bucket seatback rocks back and forth on seat track and anchor, also noticed popping sound, dealer can't correct. *ak”Owner report · Seats
Recalls - 15 campaigns
THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER IS MISSING, MISPOSITIONED OR NOT PROPERLY SEATED.
Remedy: INSPECT VEHICLES TO ASSURE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER IS PRESENT AND FULLY SEATED IN ITS CORRECT POSITION.
THE WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT WINDSHIELD OPENING PINCH-WELD-FLANGE PRIMER. THIS PRIMER WILL NOT PROPERLY ETCH THE PAINTED SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND REINSTALL IT USING THE CORRECT PRIMER.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.
THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLE COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.
IF BOTH THE LAP-BELT AND SHOULDER-BELT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS ON THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES RELEASE AT OR NEAR THE SAME TIME, ACCELERATION FORCES CAN CAUSE THE BUCKLE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ACTIVATE AND ALLOW THE BUCKLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE LATCH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STITCHING THAT CREATES THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP IN THE SHOULDER BELT(S).
THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEMS WITH NO ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS AND MAY NOT MEET THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RETRACTOR PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY(S) WITH ONE HAVING THE NEWLY DESIGNED ENERGY-MANAGEMENT TWIN-LOOP SYSTEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, VANS AND MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONICALLY FUEL INJECTED 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION PART 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL DRIVEABILITY OF THESE VEHICLES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SOME RECENTLY DEVELOPED ENHANCEMENTS WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL DRIVEABILITY OF THESE VEHICLES.
THE SEATS HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE UPPER SLAVE HINGE TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, OR WITHOUT BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE SEAT TO THE SEAT ADJUSTER. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FNVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT SEATS FOR MISSING BOLTS AND INSTALL BOLTS IF REQUIRED.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
TRUCKS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE LEFT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME REAR NUT TIGHTENED BELOW THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. LOW TORQUE ON THIS NUT MAY ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FATIGUE AND BREAK. THE BOLT BREAKAGE CAN CAUSE THE LEFT HAND CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE LEFT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME REAR NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
How other years compare
Check your exact C10 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1994 Chevrolet C10 reliable?
NHTSA has 20 owner complaints and 15 recall campaigns on record for the 1994 Chevrolet C10. The most complained-about area is visibility.
Does the 1994 Chevrolet C10 have open recalls?
15 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.